Thermotherapeutic appliance



Dec 30, 1924. 1,520,800

A. BLUME THERMOTHERAPEUTI C APPLIANCE Fild Sept. 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l a o @j ma Inventor:

Atty

Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,800

A. BLUME THERMOTHERAPEUTIC APPLTANCE Filed Sept. 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

Atty

Patented Dec. 39, 19241;.

UNITED STATES AARON BLUME, OF NFEV YORK, N. Y.

THERMOTHEBAPEUTIC APPLIANCE.

Application filed September 8, 1920. Serial No. 408,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON BLUME, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certair new and useful Improvements in Thermotherapeutic Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to thermo-therapeutic appliances for heat treatment of diseased conditions of the human body and is especially intended for use in connection with the foot, anlrle and lower leg. It is my object to cheapen and simplify the construction of such a device as is shown in my allowed application for U. S. Letters Patent tier. No. 271,417, filed January 16th, 1919, so that the full therapeutic effect will be retained and at the same time the heating element will be quickly accessible for repairs yet protected from accidental short circuits and contact with the foot.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved appliance; Fig. 2 a top View partly broken away to show the interior construction; Fig. 8 a side, sectional view; and Fig. at a fragmentary, detail view of the foot rest, heating element, etc.

The device comprises a rigid, cuter case 1, having a top cover 2 secured thereto and leaving the ankle opening as shown in Fig. 3, the cover carrying a thermometer 3 with its bulb projecting inside the case.

A perforated base board 4:, provided with feet 5, closes the bottom er the outer case. The outer case has a spacing strip 6 secured at the top edge and is lined with heat insulating material, such as asbestos, 7, so that a dead air space insulation is left between the outer case and lining as shown in Fig. 3 and the same lining extends over the top of the bottom board at 8 and inside the cover at 9.

Small spacing blocks 1010 are laid on the base board and a plate 11, perforated near the edge, is secured thereon by bolts 12 which pass through the plate, spacing blocks and base board. On this plate 11 small peritorated blocks 13-13 of electric insulating material are secured and carry the heating element 14: which terminates in the junction box 15 at the heel of the appliance. A

sheet of wire netting 16 extends to the side wall of the device and is secured to the plate over the heating element to prevent physical contact with the latter but still permit the unrestricted circulation of air above the netting. Spaced from the netting by small blocks 17 is a shallow pan or foot rest 18 with a layer of heat insulating powder 19 and a sheet of insulating material 20 secured therein.

A bag 21 may be secured to the ankle opening and extends as far up the leg as desirable.

In use the foot, either bandaged or unbandaged, is placed on the foot rest and the top closed. It the leg is to be treated the bag 21 is also adjusted. On turning on the electric current the heating element 1 1 becomes hot and the interior of the appliance raised to any desired temperature shown by the thermometer.

The air enters through the holes in the bottom board, passes through the perforations in the plate 11 and is heated by the heating element after which it rises and fills the appliance, the lining 7 and air space preventing undue radiation while the insulating material in the foot rest prevents burning of the foot.

In event it is necessary to repair the device the base may be removed with its at taehed parts by taking out the screws 22 by which it is secured to the case 1 and a new heating element put in or other repairs made without the necessity of practically destroying the device.

I claim A thermotherapeutic appliance comprising a rigid outer case, provided with an opening and adapted to enclose a toot and ankle, a cover secured. thereto, a perforated bottom on said ca P. a lining 01"? heat insulating material within the and s1 ced theretron'i, an electric heating element within the case and near the bottom thereof, a sheet of netting over said heating element and a foot rest above the netting and within the case.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature.

AARON BLUME. 

